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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

The Hill has the story here. Just one more story talking about in the lead up to the first year after the Newtown shootings, not much has changed related to federal gun control.

The failed push for stronger federal gun control laws after last December’s shooting rampage in Newtown, Conn., has left its proponents in Congress dejected, and leaves one of President Obama’s top policy goals without any clear path forward.

As in other stories, the gun ban lobby points out they made progress on the state level, though most of that was in states that already all but ban firearms. They keep referring to actions being taken in some 21 states, but for the life of me, I can't recall any major gun control being passed except in New York, New Jersey, California, Colorado, Maryland, Delaware, and Connecticut. With the exception of Colorado, all of those states were already very unfriendly to the rights of law abiding gun owners.

Gun control advocates say the shooting led to important state reforms, and the White House has touted a series of executive actions to curb violence, but congressional Democrats concede the move toward major federal gun reforms is dead, at least for now.

Other than giving lip service to still supporting gun control measures, the White House has pivoted to mental health, which is where they should have been focused in the first place.

Last month, the administration finalized regulations requiring insurers to treat mental illness and addiction the same as physical illnesses. The measure is intended to ensure better access to treatment for the mentally impaired.

“The fact that less than half of children and adults with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need is unacceptable,” Biden said Tuesday.

Ultimately, administrative actions were small consolation for proponents of stronger federal laws.